Pac-12 Football had big offensive performances, with three teams (Oregon, Washington, Utah) scoring over 45 points. Multiple receivers and running backs found the pay-dirt multiple times. These top-athletes displayed powerful running, big-play ability, and creativity to make the Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances list.
While many Pac-12 football players had big games, Unafraidshow only has room for one at each position.
Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7: Quarterback
Though he’s a freshman, Jayden Daniels is ballin. He led the Sun Devils to a big win against the Cougars. He threw for three touchdowns, zero interceptions and showed off his mobility.
On Arizona State’s final drive, Daniels was poised as a senior. He executed play after play. Then, in a moment of brilliance and creativity, Daniels kept the ball and ran it in himself. It’s not every day Pac-12 football fans get to witness a freshman do this. Especially a freshman from the west coast. From San Bernardino to glory, it’s good to watch Jayden Daniels rise.
Running Back
Zack Moss – Utah
Zack Moss making it look easy early.
Midway through the first quarter and he’s already got 115 yards. Reeling off 91 yarders sure helps.#Utespic.twitter.com/MgbS4Jd8HD
On just five carries, Zack Moss ran for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Yes, only five carries. Moss continues to be an underutilized, efficient runner. His five carries yielded yards of:
16 yards
9 yards
-1 yards
91 yard touchdown
6 yard touchdown
Moss didn’t even play in the second half. Why? Because the Utes didn’t need him any more. Although in a limited role, Zack Moss showed why he is in the conversation with Eno Benjamin for Pac-12 football’s best back. Moss is powerful and can take any carry to the house.
Wide Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk – Arizona State
#ArizonaState WR Brandon Aiyuk is one of the most underrated NFL prospects in this class.
Poor pursuit angle by the safety, but Aiyuk’s route speed forced the miss and did the rest. pic.twitter.com/smMjMdEm2w
There’s fast. And then there’s Brandon Aiyuk fast. As pointed out by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Aiyuk’s route speed makes him an “underrated NFL prospect” in the 2020 class. With his acceleration and long-speed, Aiyuk torched the Cougars secondary. After a performance like this, Aiyuk’s rank among Pac-12 football receivers surges.
Against WSU, Aiyuk made the most of each target from Jayden Daniels. With 8 targets, he secured 7 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. On those, he sped past the Cougars for touchdowns of 40, 86 and 36 yards. It was impressive!
It is nigh-impossible to remove Jacob Breeland from any best Pac-12 football list. He is just too good at football. Breeland is reliable and can turn any reception into a big play. On the season, Breeland leads NCAA tight ends in receptions-per-game and touchdowns-per-game.
He’s a large target with speed and route-running skills. Like many first and second-round tight ends before him, he’s a matchup nightmare. It’s why Breeland is on scout’s lists as a potential second-round NFL pick in the 2020 draft.
However, after catching a 22-yards reception, Breeland suffered an injury that forced him from the rest of the contest. Mario Cristobal said that his leg injury is serious and will cause him to miss the rest of the season. If healthy, Breeland will get drafted on Day 1 or Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Disagree with the Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 football players?
If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
After a tight loss against Cal in Week 2 of college football, the Huskies bounced back in a big way against Hawaii. They ousted the Rainbow Warriors 52-20. Similarly, UW’s football team had another dominant performance against Arizona after an upset loss to Stanford. Even though the Wildcats were on a four-game win-streak, the Huskies beat them 51-27.
For Washington fans, the pendulum swung back into favor and joy. But, unfortunately for UW football, the Ducks had a more impressive win against the Colorado Buffaloes. With Oregon coming to town this week, does Washington have a shot?
Yes, the UW offense scored five touchdowns and three field goals. But in the first half, against an Arizona team on a four-game win-streak, the offense didn’t show up. Instead, the Dawgs made numerous big plays on defense and special teams. In the first half, the defense and special teams had:
2 Sacks
4 Tackles for a Loss
One blocked punt
Two forced fumbles and recoveries
One touchdown
At the end of the half, the Wildcats still led the Huskies. Despite incredible defensive play, the Huskies were still down 13-17 at half.
The Huskies Offense isn’t Perfect, even with 51 Points
𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 + 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 + 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙥
Take a look at last night's 51-27 victory at Arizona.#PurpleReign
Again, Washington decided to go for field goals. Early in the game, they played it safe. In the first quarter, they opted for two field goals instead of going for it. Fourth and five at the Arizona 10. Kick. Fourth and three at the Arizona 3. Kick. It’s unbelievable how often Chris Peterson and the Huskies exchange field goals for touchdowns. Think about it, if the Huskies converted just 50-percent of those fourth downs, they’d be better off. Yes, they tried to convert a fourth down on their first drive. They failed. But, math and analytics still show that it is optimal to go for it on the opposing half. After all, seven points is more than six.
Additionally, the Huskies offense was sedentary, out-of-sync, and inconsistent in the first half. In fact, the Husky defense outscored the offense 7-6 in the first half. Their six drives yielded results of:
Turnover on Downs (4 plays, 9 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 36)
Field Goal (8 plays, 62 yards)
Punt (3 plays, 5 yards)
Field Goal (4 plays, 0 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 8)
Punt (6 plays, 43 yards)
Punt (3 plays, 4 yards)
Granted, the Huskies offense got rolling in the second half. They scored five touchdowns and a field goal in the second half. Eason and company got rolling. Sean McGrew and Salvon Ahmed showed consistency. Ahmed scored three rushing touchdowns and McGrew showed his efficient and explosive skill-set.
Arizona couldn’t stop them. However, the 2019 UW offense continues to be risk-averse and inconsistent. They need to find rhythm quicker and be willing to go for it on fourth down.
Huskies Finally Involve Puka Nacua
It is about time. In 2019, the Huskies continued to pepper their senior receivers with targets. With Aaron Fuller and Hunter Bryant making plays, that’s understandable. However, with a quality option like Puka Nacua on the bench, it didn’t make sense to keep putting Andre Baccellia on the field.
After getting his chance, Nacua let his name be known. The 6-1, 204-pound freshman caught three passes for 97 yards. Considering Jacob Eason only threw for 243 yards against Arizona, Nacua accounted for 40-percent of the team’s receiving yards. Excellent. It was a breakout performance for the freshman.
Against Oregon, the Huskies will be tested. The Ducks defense is elite. They’ve held opponents to 52 points in 6 games. But, more impressively, the Ducks haven’t let anyone score more than 7 points in their last five games. Because the Huskies offense has been hit-or-miss this season, Eason and company have to be on point.
Additionally, Justin Herbert and the Ducks offense continues to play well. Herbert has a touchdown in his last 34 games and Oregon has a top-5 offensive line in the nation. In Week 7, two Ducks offensive lineman were featured on PFF College’s Week 7 national team. So, it’s not going to be as easy for the defense to make big plays as they did against Arizona.
Last, it’s important to remember that Oregon’s only loss is against Auburn. In a close game. Since week 1, they’ve won each game handily. The Huskies, on the other hand, have swung back and forth between impressive and unimpressive. In order to win or even compete against the Ducks, the Huskies need to:
Create open looks for Jacob Eason
Give snaps to young talent like Puka Nacua
Make clean tackles and capitalize on turnover-opportunities
Attempt fourth down conversions early and often
If the Pac-12 is anything, it’s a conference of cannibals. So, an upset win is certainly possible for the Huskies.
The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings
Week 7 provided us with our first major upset of a College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 8 As it Should Be team. I welcome more weekends like this. Chalk is boring. This is why I love college football. Every team is susceptible to be upset on any given Saturday. Georgia got stunned by a South Carolina team with a 2-3 record at home. They had been an en vogue pick to make the CFB Playoff. But, that ship has sailed unless they run the table and win the SEC.
The way this season is shaping up, everyone may be on board with an 8 team playoff. There will be so many 1 loss teams and Boise State who will be deserving of a chance to play for a championship. Wouldn’t it just make more sense to have the five Power 5 champions and highest-ranked Group of 5 team to get automatic bids? There would still be two spots left for at-large bids. You would always get the best and most deserving teams in the tournament. That might actually cause teams to schedule better non-conference games because they would know they could still get in the CFB Playoffs with 1-2 losses. Fans would then get better games.
The Rules: No Bias, No BS, No Agenda
There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 6. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.
I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 7.
College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 8:
Next Up: Utah, Auburn, Georgia, Texas
10. Notre Dame (5-1)
Last Week: 30-27 (W) vs USC
Why is Georgia ranked behind Notre Dame even though they beat them a few weeks ago? That’s the way the cookie crumbs when you lose to a team with a losing record at home. Notre Dame has knocked down a ranked Virginia and talented USC team since. The Fighting Irish are much faster and athletic than years past. I don’t believe they are a national championship-caliber team, but they are one of the better teams in college football.
9. Penn State (6-0)
Last Week: 17-12 (W) at Iowa
Penn State has been flying under the radar all season. It is time for them to step into the light. They haven’t earned the #9 spot with their schedule so far. But, their dominance has been impressive and the ‘next up” teams all have major blemishes. The Iowa game was not their best offensive output, but their defense was firm. This team doesn’t have the big names like Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley, but they are destroying everyone in their path.
Big props to Penn State for dealing with the disrespectful letter sent to Jonathan Sutherland about his dreadlocks and tattoos.
SEE IT: Penn State players wear shirts in support of Jonathan Sutherland during warmupshttps://t.co/ZXWs7FNMaq
I have gone from believing Florida was overrated with Franks at QB, to know this is a quality football team with Trask under center. As good as their defense is, they gave up too many big plays to Auburn and LSU. Dan Mullens has officially transformed the Florida Gators program. They are no longer in the SEC cellar. In fact, with Georgia’s loss to South Carolina, I now believe Florida is the best team in the SEC East.
7. Oregon Ducks (5-1)
Last Week: 45-3 (W) vs Colorado
Another week of football, another week the Oregon defense has held their opponent under 8 points. The Ducks turned a corner after the conservative play that cost them the Auburn game. This defense has only given up 52 points through 6 games. Oh, and they have a legit offense led by Justin Herbert. He has thrown a TD pass in 34 straight games. If the Ducks run the table through the Pac-12, they may sneak in the CFB Playoff top 4.
Opposing point totals last five games: Nevada – 6 Montana – 3 Stanford – 6 California – 7 Colorado – 3
That's five straight games of lockdown, dominant defense. This isn't a fluke. This group is for real. Looking like one of the best Oregon defenses in quite some time.
Six games, four shutouts. That is an impressive stat, but only one of them was against a Power 5 opponent. The Badgers score high marks for dominance and they have one quality win against Michigan. The one thing holding them back is their schedule. Their non-conference schedule looks more like Alabama’s. Kent State, South Florida, and Central Michigan won’t impress anyone.
This Wisconsin team is different from the teams of the past. Jonathan Taylor is the bell cow, but the offense is not one dimensional. The rubber meets the road in two weeks when they head to Columbus to play O-H-I-O State.
Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:
The Red River Rivalry did not disappoint. Oklahoma got a quality win, but the step up in competition did bother the Sooners. Jalen Hurts was not quite as sharp and had two early turnovers in the RedZone that could have blown the game open.
Everyone has questioned the Sooners defense for the last 2-3 years. Against Texas, they showed moments of being extremely stout against the run. I believe Oklahoma will eventually win the Big XII, but it will not be without 1-2 nail-bitter games.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0)
Last Week: vs 47-28 (W) at Texas A&M
This was a fairly comfortable win for the Crimson Tide. However, there are some red flags emerging with this defense. They gave up 28 points to Texas A&M who Clemson held to 10 and Auburn held to 20. Alabama’s offense is so good that they can make up for any deficiency created by playing so many freshmen on defense. This could come back to bite them in the ass down the stretch in the SEC.
I am still extremely frustrated that Bama is so good and so talented but we have to watch them play four games they could roll their helmets out and win.
3. Clemson Tigers (6-0)
Last Week: 45-14 (W) vs Florida State
This game was 21-0 before Florida State knew what hit them. Clemson heard all the noise after their 1-pt win against North Carolina. They clearly wanted to send a message to the college football world that they are still the big dog on the block. Trevor Lawrence still hasn’t looked as good as last season. He threw for three touchdowns against FSU but had a terrible interception as well. If he does get his play together, Clemson may cruise to back-to-back championships.
2. LSU (6-0)
Last Week: 42-28 (W) vs Florida
LSU had their hands full with Florida but took care of business. It is still remarkable to see how explosive and fast-paced the Tigers’ offense is. Joe Burrow is efficient, accurate, and his swagger is on max. They are averaging nearly 50 points per game, and even the best defenses in the country would be hard-pressed against LSU’s offense. On top of a fantastic offense, they boast a fast and physical defense.
The Tigers’ defense has given up 38 points to Texas, Vanderbilt, and 28 points to Florida. That’s not good and potential liability.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0)
Last Week: IDLE
Nothing happened this week that could knock Ohio State from the #1 spot. No team is playing better in all three phases of the game. Their offense, defense, and special teams has been unstoppable. I can’t wait to see how this team responds against Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 8.
Last week, in a gut-wrenching but unfortunately unsurprising move, TheMaven’s takeover of Sports Illustrated resulted in layoffs for nearly half of the iconic magazine’s staff members.
The process to let go of so many staff members was callous and ill-managed, as the staff originally asked staffers to report to one of two meetings – presumably separating the people staying and leaving – before deciding to cancel them 10 minutes beforehand.
Regardless of how it went down, it’s clear this move is another step away from the investigative, high-quality journalism that so long dominated the sports industry, and is another step toward what is not-so-affectionately being called “content farms”.
What’s a content farm?
Basically, content farms are sites like FanSided, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation, sites that hire underpaid staffers to man team-specific sites that produce rapid amounts of content about each individual team (Addicted to Quack is the Oregon Ducks SB Nation site, for example).
These sites aren’t inherently bad themselves necessarily, although the amount of work required by site managers (or experts at Fansided) generally does not equal the amount of pay provided.
The issue is that so many organizations, including USA TODAY and now Sports Illustrated, are going this route as opposed to investing in actual storytellers and investigative reporters, leaving the industry thin on that kind of content.
Having a few sites that just produce short news stories and quick analysis to reach a more general fan base is fine, as long as there are sites that do long-form journalism, finding stories that these – often college-aged – site managers who make at best $400 per month don’t have the time or expertise to find themselves.
When companies like Sports Illustrated resort to the same tactic, what readers will get is 6-7 sites all producing 8-10 articles per day, none over 200 words, with tons of videos and links and ads and very little actual substance to them.
Gone will be the days of 1,500 word articles about players past, their relationship with their coach, or their parents, or their siblings, replaced by fluff anyone can find on any number of different sites.
Deadspin reported on what TheMaven COO said in his presentation on the company’s plan:
“So our vision, and this is where you come in, is that entrepreneurs run these team-specific sites. People who are all Hawkeyes all the time or all Jets all the time. And are covering their team on an intense basis, and equally important are fostering an intense community of fans who come back to the site everyday.”
Quality journalists, journalists who spent hours, maybe days, crafting the perfect story – talking to multiple sources, sending follow-ups, digging deeper – they lost their jobs for Sports Illustrated to do this.
And, unfortunately, this may just be the beginning of the end for quality, long-form sports journalism as we know it.
The UW football team just lost to a second-string quarterback who didn’t even complete the game. Davis Mills left during the third quarter and Jack West played the rest of the game… without throwing a single pass.
Against Stanford, the UW football team was lackluster and disastrous. They were outgained 482-294 yards and beat 13-23 even though they were 17-point favorites. With another unexpected loss, the Huskies lost their chance for college football playoffs and likely any chance at a Pac-12 title.
1-2 in Conference Games
In Pac-12 football games, the UW football team is not meeting expectations. Against Cal, at least they lost to a team that beat North Texas and Mississippi in the following weeks. There was also a lightning weather-delay. If the Huskies kept winning, the ranking system could brush the Cal loss away.
But come on. A loss to Stanford. Really? This was a Stanford team that had a losing record, lost its starting quarterback and was playing three freshmen on the offensive line. It was an inexcusable loss. Their conference game record is a reflection of a defense that lacks turnovers and an offense without creativity.
Is UW football’s conference record all Jacob Eason’s fault. No. Yes, he certainly has made mistakes and lacks consistency. However, his receivers, offensive system and personnel groupings aren’t doing him any favors. Against Stanford, Eason targeted Aaron Fuller 17 times for 9 receptions and 171 yards. On his other 19 targets, his receivers totaled just 7 receptions for 35 yards. With the pressure the Husky offensive line let through, Eason needed playmakers. But his receivers either couldn’t get open or dropped big-time throws.
So on a must score possession we get: drop by Fuller, our receivers run into each other over the middle, and Fuller falls down leading to a pick. Yup.
On the year, Fuller and Hunter Bryant are the most consistent receiving threats for Washington. In 2019, the Huskies just four receivers with 10 or more receptions. The targets are heavily consolidated. But worse, Andre Baccellia totals just 6 receptions for 41 yards and zero touchdowns. He’s the wideout opposite of Fuller and lacks Pac-12 production. Yet, the coaches are still putting him out there as a starter. Either he isn’t getting open, drops passes, or he doesn’t have chemistry with Eason. Bottom line, he needs to step up or step off the field.
If the UW football team wants to have more offensive success, they need to start experimenting with different receivers and play calls that will give Eason open looks.
Washington Huskies vs Arizona
Now, the Dawgs face off against an Arizona football team on a four-game win streak. After their loss to Hawaii, they beat Northern Arizona, Texas Tech, UCLA and Colorado. Yes, the Huskies are 9.5 favorites to win the game, but they were 17 point favorites against Stanford. Everyone saw where that got them. Arizona is a good team on a streak. They put up 35 points against Colorado last week. In comparison, UW’s highest point-total against Pac-12 competition this season in 28 points (against USC). This game is going to be tougher than expected and UW football fans might witness a three-game losing streak.
Chris Peterson and the UW football program need to figure out a better system, offensively and defensively. Whatever it is they’re doing right now is not working.
Where is the chaos? For the most part, nothing has truly surprised me this college football season besides Michigan getting their doors blown off by Wisconsin. That and Florida playing better with a backup quarterback as opposed to their starter are the only true surprises for me. Going into Week 7, my College Football Playoff includes:
Alabama
LSU
Georgia
Ohio State
Just because the season lacks chaos doesn’t mean it’s been a bore. In fact, I’ve been highly entertained thanks to the play of top quarterbacks like Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, and Joe Burrow. Luckily for me, chaos is on the horizon. The top teams have important conference matchups starting this week so as Heath Ledger said in The Dark Knight, “And here we go.” Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 7.
The Red River Showdown
With all due respect to their opponents, Oklahoma has not been tested all season. Lincoln Riley and the Sooner offense have scored over 45 points in all five of their wins. However, the first big test has arrived as Oklahoma faces Texas in the Red River Showdown in what could be the first of two meetings this season. Just like the Sooners, the Longhorns have a prolific offense as well, having eclipsed more than 36 points in their five games. Hurts and Sam Ehlinger will light up the scoreboard as both teams should score over 40 points. What’s the better bet, Oklahoma winning the game or Oklahoma using the “horns down” gesture? After losing to Texas last year, I’d bet on Oklahoma to win this revenge game.
Penn State Begins Their Murderers’ Row Schedule
Ohio State is the class of the Big 10, but don’t sleep on Penn State. The Nittany Lions have both a top-five scoring offense and top-five scoring defense. This might be James Franklin’s best team in Happy Valley and that includes teams with Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley. However, Penn State is about to enter the murderer’s row section of their schedule. Penn State’s next three games: at Iowa, home vs. Michigan, at Michigan State. We’ll know a lot more about Penn State after this three-game stretch. Win all three and they’ll be in the top 7. Side note, if I’m Penn State, I’d have every player run out of the tunnel with dreads this weekend to stick it to that bullshit letter.
Can Alabama Continue Its Dominance Over Texas A&M?
In a way, Johnny Football beating Alabama in 2012 was the best and the worst thing to happen for Texas A&M. Winning is awesome, but beating Nick Saban is like signing a deathwish. Since that win in 2012, Alabama has six straight victories over A&M and the Tide have scored over 33 points in five of those six wins. Tua and his quartet of receivers have not had a close game all season. The last time Alabama went to College Station, the Tide escaped with an eight-point win. Will Alabama finally be tested in the second half?
Keep An Eye On Boise State
I am not saying Boise State will make the College Football Playoff. The Broncos could go undefeated and it still won’t matter. The committee would never put Boise in the playoff this year. However, if Boise went undefeated and won a New Year’s Six bowl, it would cause an even greater discussion for an eight-team playoff. Remember when UCF went undefeated in 2017 and won a New Year’s Six game and the debate was all about how the playoff needs to expand? If Boise does the same thing, the debate for expansion would be even stronger and for college football fans, that’s a good thing.
Showdown In Death Valley
"I don't like them very much. I know they don't like us very much."
"It's just bad blood colliding."
"I forgot that quarterback's name….he was running around, celebrating on the field like he won the Super Bowl."
We’ve got some bad blood. You love to see it. What’s been the bigger surprise, LSU’s offense or Florida’s undefeated start? Coach O finally opened up the offense and the Tigers haven’t looked back thanks to the elite play of Joe Burrow, who leads the second-ranked offense in the nation behind Oklahoma. As surprising as LSU’s offense has been, Florida’s undefeated start has arguably been more impressive. I hate to say that a team improved because of an injury, but Florida is a better team with Kyle Trask under center. Ever since taking over for Feleipe Franks, Trask has completed over 72% of his passes for 7 TDs and 2 INTs. Trask needs to be on his game Saturday night in Death Valley as LSU currently stands as a 13 point favorite.
What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 7? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
It was another week of chaos for Pac-12 football. No other conference does it better. Unlike the rest, the Pac-12 conference rankings rotate like a Game of Thrones season. Every week brings unexpected wins, losses, winners, and losers.
Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances
With week 6 set and in the periphery, the best offensive performances clearly stand out.
If any Pac-12 football fans doubted Tate’s arm-strength prior to this game, his 75-yard touchdown shred those doubts. Tate, against a competitive Colorado team, was exceptional. He went 31 for 41 with three touchdowns and just one interception. In addition to that 75-yard bomb, Tate showed strength, touch, and precision. Unlike UW’s consolidated target share, Tate completed passes to 11 different receivers. Of those, five receivers had at least three receptions. Khalil Tate was a top-notch quarterback against Colorado.
Additionally, he displayed his dual-threat capability. On third and six, with just 57 seconds left, Tate ended the game with his legs. He rushed for 7 yards, a first down, and the win. Well done Khalil Tate.
Against the 15th-ranked Washington football team, Cameron Scarlett was productive and consistent. He carried the ball 33 times for 151 yards and one touchdown and upset the ranked, Pac-12 football opponent. Additionally, he caught two receptions for 32 yards. It was a good night for the senior back.
But most importantly, Scarlett was a closer. In the fourth quarter, without quarterback Davis Mills, Stanford elected to run the ball. Repeatedly. Other than when Ryan Bowman sacked Jack West, Scarlett rushed every offensive play of Stanford’s final two drives. 12 rushes on 13 plays. Those two drives took up nearly eight minutes of possession. Additionally, they resulted in a field goal (10-point lead) and a punt, placed at the Washington 17 with 54 seconds left. Scarlett closed that game for Stanford.
Best Wide Receiver Performance
Tony Brown – Colorado
One play after a 49-yard hookup from Montez, @tonybrownxviii takes it in by himself. He's becoming a cheat code.
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 5, 2019
Even though Colorado lost, Tony Brown can’t be blamed. He was, yet again, Colorado’s best player. He secured all 10 targets for 141 yards. 10 targets and 10 receptions. If only the Huskies had those hands.
On top of that, Tony Brown took an end-around for a 15-yard touchdown. He followed blocks, eluded defenders, stiff-armed a would-be-tackler, and earned that touchdown. His talent is becoming more and more apparent. He’s one of the best Pac-12 football receivers out there and is displaying versatility and reliability.
Best Tight End Performance
Jacob Breeland – Oregon
Senior Jacob Breeland is the national leader among tight ends with five touchdowns this season.
His reliability has been crucial, catching 18 of his 21 targets this season.
Against Cal, Jacob Breeland was Justin Herbert’s favorite target. 5 receptions for 87 yards. Most don’t expect to see a tight end lead his team in receptions and yards. Especially not with 17.4 yards-per-reception. But Breeland is a different type of beast for the Pac-12 football conference.
Disagree with the Best Pac-12 football players list?
If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings
Week 6 in college football provided a necessary shakeup in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 7 As it Should Be. So many times reigning national champions and College Football Playoff teams get automatically put in the top spots the next season. However, every season is different, so last season’s results should have no bearing on this season. The idea that these teams can only fall in the rankings if they lose is flawed. We are supposed to be getting the best teams in the playoff for this season alone. Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Florida cannot be ignored for their body of work while we fawn over LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson.
At this point in the season, there are eight teams that can make a legitimate argument for inclusion in the College Football Playoff.
The Rules: No Bias, No BS, No Agenda
There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 6. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.
I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 6.
College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 7:
Next Up: Penn State, Notre Dame,
10. Texas Longhorns (4-1)
Last Week: at 42-31 (W) West Virginia
I do not question the Longhorns offense and their ability to put up points. They have done it against everyone including LSU. I am very much concerned about this defense. They have given up 30 or more points in three of their five games. The rubber will meet the road on Saturday against Oklahoma.
9. Oregon Ducks (4-1)
Last Week: 17-7 (W) Cal
The Oregon Ducks have a real defense. This is not a drill. Oregon just gave up their first touchdown since week one of the season. The Ducks are the only team from the Pac-12 with any hope to make the CFB Playoff. Justin Herbert continued his consecutive games with a touchdown pass streak (33). Oregon’s running game ws operating on a high level. I do need to see the Ducks score more points.
8. Florida Gators (5-0)
Last Week: 24-13 Auburn
I have been very outspoken about what I think the ceiling is for this Florida Gators team. But they have earned their right in the College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 7 as it should be. They are a flawed team, but they play hard and have a fast, talented, and well-coached defense. The offense turns the ball over too much, they commit too many penalties, with a shaky offensive line. At the end of the day, winning matters, and quality wins count double. So, the Gators belong here.
7. Wisconsin Badgers (5-0)
Last Week: vs 48-0 (W) vs Kent State
It is time to give Wisconsin the respect they deserve. Their defense and running game are special, to say the least. Junior running back Jonathan Taylor is cementing his spot on the Wisconsin football Mt. Rushmore. He added another 186 yards and 4 touchdowns on only 19 carries. The Big Ten better buckle those chinstraps tight because the Badgers at coming in fast, and physical.
Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:
Jalen Hurts took it light on Kansas. He only accounted for four total touchdowns and under 300 yards of total offense. This Oklahoma offense still looks incredible and unstoppable. Is there anything college football fans want more than to see Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma play in the College Football Playoff? That would be the greatest possible storyline in the 2019-20 season.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0)
Last Week: IDLE
Alabama’s schedule has been a cakewalk. I am just unsure how this team gets battle-tested to handle the stress of playing top competition. This same problem came back to bite them in the ass against Georgia in the SEC championship, and against Clemson in the national championship.
I am still extremely frustrated that Bama is so good and so talented but we have to watch them play four games they could roll their helmets out and win.
4. Clemson Tigers (5-0)
Last Week: IDLE
Clemson has not looked as dominant as they did last year. However, that is often typical of national championship teams. The goal this season is, continue to improve and finish undefeated to get into the tournament. The only reason the Tigers are ranked higher than Alabama is because of the schedule played. Through 5 games, they have played and beat four Power 5 teams.
3. LSU (5-0)
Last Week: vs 42-6 (W) Utah State
I thought LSU might have a little trouble easy with Utah State and pull away late. But, these are not your father’s Tigers. This offense is explosive and efficient. Joe Burrow threw for another 5 touchdowns. We will see what LSU’s offense is really about next week against Florida’s tough defense.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (5-0)
Last Week: 43-14 (W) at Tennessee
Georgia took whatever they wanted and did whatever they wanted against Tennessee. The Vols have been a doormat for the SEC and UGA rubbed all sorts of mud and dirt on them. Fromm was nearly perfect throwing the football and the running game averaged nearly 6 yards per carry. Dominance on max. That Notre Dame win keeps looking better and better each week.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0)
Last Week: 34-10 (W) vs Michigan State
Ohio State’s dominance has been unmatched this season. Their defense has only given up a grand total of 52 points in six games. Justin Fields cam back down to earth from his stratospheric numbers, but it didn’t matter against Michigan State. The Buckeyes rushed for 323 yards. Based upon what the teams have done from this season alone, I cannot keep OSU out of the #1 spot.
Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 7.
It’s time to make a change to my College Football Playoff rankings. After Week 5, it’s time to update my top four teams because frankly, my previous number one team has not played like it. I’m still waiting for this team to really show what they can do, but for now, they have been surpassed by four teams. Going into Week 6, my College Football Playoff includes:
Alabama
LSU
Georgia
Ohio State
If you’ve watched college football this year, there’s no way you can say that Clemson has been one of the four best teams in the country. In fact, my number five team would be Ohio State followed by Clemson at six. Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers have struggled all season and it’s clear there’s a championship hangover in effect. Now, I fully believe Clemson will turn it around and make the CFP, but for now, they’re the odd man out. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 6.
One Month Before First College Football Playoff Rankings
We are just about a month away from the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings. If the rankings were to be released today, the top four would be Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. Does being in the top four in the first ranking matter? Since the CFP’s inception, 13 of the 20 teams revealed in the first week made the CFP. So, teams will be fighting to make the first ranking over the next month. Buckle up.
Get All Details on CA’s Fair Play Act and NY, Colorado, S. Carolina, and Florida Bills on the Podcast
Jim Harbaugh’s Last Stand
After the first month of the season, did you ever think that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh would be on the hot seat? One close win against Army and one ass-kicking against Wisconsin put Harbaugh’s job in jeopardy. This Saturday, Michigan welcomes the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes to the Big House. This is a must-win game for Michigan. I don’t care what happens the rest of the season. If Harbaugh can’t beat Iowa at home, he doesn’t deserve to coach Michigan.
Auburn Continues To Run The Gauntlet
Defeat Oregon on a neutral site? No problem. Beat Texas A&M at Kyle Field? No problem. So far, Auburn passed every challenge with flying colors. Unfortunately for the Tigers, it’s only going to get harder. Undefeated Auburn heads to the Swamp to take on the undefeated Florida Gators in an SEC showdown. Bo Nix continues to improve as the freshman quarterback has thrown for 980 yards and seven touchdowns to two interceptions while adding two rushing scores. For the Gators, Kyle Trask has flourished since he took over for Feleipe Franks. Trask is 2-0 as the starter this season and has given the Gators a jumpstart on offense. The winner of this game will have a shot at cracking the top 5 in next week’s poll.
Ohio State Is Just Fine Without Urban Meyer
I knew Ohio State would be good, but I never expected it would be this good this quickly. The Buckeyes rank eighth in total offense and second in total defense. Ryan Day taking over for Urban Meyer reminds me a lot of when Lincoln Riley succeeded Bob Stoops. Both teams never missed a beat and even improved. After curb-stomping Nebraska in Lincoln, the Buckeyes return to Columbus to take on a tough Michigan State defense. I can’t wait for the Buckeyes to face Wisconsin at the end of the month.
Watch Out For Texas
Oklahoma, watch out. Oklahoma may have Jalen Hurts, but Texas has Sam Ehlinger, who has arguably been just as impressive. The Longhorn QB has thrown for over 1200 yards with 15 TDs to 1 INT. Texas only has a loss to LSU so if the Longhorns can survive at West Virginia this Saturday, they can take control of the Big 12 with an upset win over Oklahoma next weekend. Please, Texas, don’t lose this weekend.
What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 6? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Governor Gavin Newsom broke the internet this morning when a video of him signing the Fair Pay to Play Act into law was released. The Fair Pay to Play Act was one of the hottest issues of the summer. It led everyone to debate ifcollege athletes should be paid above a cost-of-attendance scholarship. The debate is no longer, at least for college athletes in California. Governor Newsom sat with LeBron James on his hit show The Shopand signed the bill into law.
King James was an ardent supporter of the bill. The Fair Pay to Play Actwill give college athletes in California the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) and the ability to sign with an agent. Governor Newsom ignored the NCAA’s threat to prohibit colleges in California from participating in post-season championships and signed the bill into law. What will this mean for college athletes in California in 2023 when the bill is set to take effect?
The Fair Pay to Play Act
The Fair Pay to Play Act seeks to accomplish two goals for college athletes attending four-year colleges in California. One goal is to allow them to sign with agents. Pursuant to the bill, the agents must be licensed with the state. The agents must also be fully compliant with the federal Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act. The second goal is to give college athletes in California the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
Under the Act, colleges will be prohibited from upholding any rule that prevents college athletes from receiving compensation for their NIL. Any compensation that is earned will not affect the athletes’ scholarships. Furthermore, the NCAA will not be able to keep college athletes from participating in collegiate sports simply because they receive NIL compensation. The NCAA also will not be able to ban a school from participation because its athletes receive NIL compensation.
However, college athletes do not have a blanket rule to enter into a contract without any consideration for their team’s pre-existing contracts. If an athlete enters into a contract, the athlete must inform the school. If the athlete’s contract conflicts with the team’s contract, the athlete will not be able to enter into that contract. However, the team contract will not prevent an athlete from receiving NIL compensation when the athlete is not engaged in official team business. The Act does not apply to prospective college athletes. The Fair Pay to Play Act will only apply to four-year colleges. However, the California legislature intends to create a community college NIL working group to study the California Community College Athletic Association’s rules.
Podcast Discussion About the Name, Image, and Likeness Bills
How will the Fair Pay to Play Act Effect Colleges in other States?
During his appearance on The Shop, Governor Newsom stated that “the [Fair Pay to Play Act] will initiate dozens of other states to introduce similar legislation.” Governor Newsom could not be more right. Before he signed the Fair Pay to Play Act into law other states had already followed suit. For example, New York state senator Kevin Parker introduced the New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act. The New York bill is very similar to the Fair Pay to Play Act, but goes a bit further.
New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act
The New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act also seeks to give college athletes the right to profit from their NIL without losing their scholarship or collegiate eligibility. The bill prohibits New York colleges from upholding any rule that prevents college athletes from receiving NIL compensation. The bill also prohibits the NCAA from banning an athlete from collegiate participation due to NIL compensation. Likewise, the bill prohibits the NCAA from banning colleges whose athletes receive NIL compensation.
Like the Fair Pay to Play Act, college athletes in New York would not have the blanket ability to enter a contract without consideration of their team’s pre-existing contracts. The athletes will be required to inform their school of any contract they enter into. They would not be allowed to enter a contract that conflicts with the team’s contracts. However, a team contract will not prevent an athlete from receiving NIL compensation when the athlete is not engaged in official team business.
The New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act also gives college athletes the ability to sign with agents. The agents must be properly registered and compliant with federal laws. The bill also exempts community colleges and calls for a working group to be created to address the NIL issue for community colleges. The bill also does not apply to prospective college athletes. The New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act is very similar to the Fair Pay to Play Act. However, the New York bill takes college athlete compensation a couple of steps further.
The New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act Seeks to go the Extra Mile
The New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act seeks to go the extra mile by requiring that each college establish a fund for injured athletes. With this provision, athletes who suffer a career-ending injury in a practice or game will qualify for the fund. The athletes would receive the money upon graduation. The amount of compensation would be determined by each school. Perhaps most notably, the bill goes further by requiring that each college share 15 percent of its revenue from ticket sales with the athletes. These are major differences because it requires the schools to make direct payments to the athletes. Hopefully, California has broken the ice so that these additions to college athlete compensation can become law.
Colorado and South Carolina Also Have Plans to Follow Suit
Lawmakers in South Carolina and Colorado have already announced their intentions to follow suit. They both plan to submit legislation similar to the Fair Pay to Play Act in their upcoming legislative sessions. South Carolina State senator Marlon Kimpson and representative Justin Bamberg plan to introduce the bill. The bill will require the biggest colleges in South Carolina to pay $5,000 a year stipends to athletes in profitable sports like football and basketball. The bill will also seek to allow college athletes to receive compensation from sponsorships and autograph signings.
The Colorado legislation was introduced last session by state senators Owen Hill and Jeff Bridges. However, it was too late in the session when it was introduced. The senators plan to re-introduce the bill in the next legislative session. The Colorado bill will also require direct payment to college athletes from schools. Former college athlete Jeremy Bloom is a supporter of the Colorado legislation.
Whether the NCAA likes it or not, NIL Payments are Coming
Governor Newsom did not back down to the NCAA. From the looks of things, other states are not going to either. Whether the NCAA likes it or not, NIL compensation is coming. As Maverick Carter pointed out on The Shop, America is a capitalistic society. College athletes should have the same rights to participate in this capitalistic society like every other student. The Fair Pay to Play Act and other similar legislation seek to give college athletes that right. In light of Governor Newsom’s decision, it will be interesting to see what the NCAA’s NIL working group proposes. The working group is expected to share its findings and decision soon.
